Raleigh Special Products Division Titanium - INFO PLEASE

[dyna-ti]

Saying that I'm still waiting for someone to post a picture of their uncle Petrov making this frame in an old rusty Soviet submarine factory

My Ti Russian frame is ot4 seamless. And keep in mind the Russians built most of the international space station. I think when it comes to working Ti, theyre as good as the best of anyone else.

 

[Haylock1974]

... I'm still waiting for someone to post a picture of their uncle Petrov making this frame in an old rusty Soviet submarine factory

This is a great thread! What are your thoughts on my theory of it being built for Barrie Clark, as a training bike perhaps?

Sounds good Chris. I'm not into road bikes but this one has me very interested in seeing its build progress.

If I am not mistaken I think the Barrie you are think of had an 'e' at the end of his surname!?

Perhaps whoever scratched the name on the frame missed it off by mistake?

It would be nice to think that this frame was destined for use by Barrie but fear this is a question that will forever remain unanswered!?

 

[Haylock1974]

Saying that I'm still waiting for someone to post a picture of their uncle Petrov making this frame in an old rusty Soviet submarine factory

My Ti Russian frame is 6al/4v seamless. And keep in mind the Russians built most of the international space station. I think when it comes to working Ti, theyre as good as the best of anyone else.

I will second that Dyna-ti.
I have a Russian Titanium Red Mig MTB frame from the mid 90s which is extremely high quality.
I once heard that these were built with the titanium from decommissioned MIG fighter jets!?

 

[Cavalier]

Saying that I'm still waiting for someone to post a picture of their uncle Petrov making this frame in an old rusty Soviet submarine factory

My Ti Russian frame is 6al/4v seamless. And keep in mind the Russians built most of the international space station. I think when it comes to working Ti, theyre as good as the best of anyone else.

I'm sure your Russian frame is absolutely lovely Mr. Dyna-ti. It was said in jest.

 

[Cavalier]

... I'm still waiting for someone to post a picture of their uncle Petrov making this frame in an old rusty Soviet submarine factory

This is a great thread! What are your thoughts on my theory of it being built for Barrie Clark, as a training bike perhaps?

I have to admit I wouldn't know who would have owned something like this previously or how to find out. Looking at the finish of that frame it doesn't look much like anybody has used it.

 

[hamster]

The Russians were the masters of Ti - the SR-71 Blackbird was built with Russian Ti sourced on the quiet during the cold war! Russians even made titanium hulled submarines (Alfa class) and had a mastery of production of huge quantities of the metal.
Certainly there were lots of Ti welders in the Russian defence industry who then fabricated other things after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Things like Ti racks were made from hydraulic tubing from B52s scrapped as a result of the disarmament treaties. I've always wondered how fat some of the tubes were and whether full frames were ever made.

 

[regan_ev]

Oops! My bad on misspelling Barrie Clarke's surname! I just got all excited for you thing this was a special special-products frame!

Nice to learn about the history of Russian titanium manufacturing and fabrication.

 

[dyna-ti]

It was said in jest.

I know it was

 

[Haylock1974]

Any thoughts about the serial number?
I always thought that serial numbers on frames produced by the Special Products Division began with SB or are these connected with the SBDU?
Are the Special Products Division and the SBDU the same thing?
Lots of questions.....

 

[Cavalier]

Any thoughts about the serial number?
I always thought that serial numbers on frames produced by the Special Products Division began with SB or are these connected with the SBDU?
Are the Special Products Division and the SBDU the same thing?
Lots of questions.....

This is where we need a Raleigh/SBDU specialist. My focus is always more on engineering, heritage and materials.
I think there are some people on this site who may have worked at Raleigh, hopefully they'll pick up this thread.